Marine One near-collision caused by radio failures, NTSB report finds

Marine One NTSB investigation aviation safety radio communication failure Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reveals that communication failures led to a near-collision between President Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter and an Envoy Air jet on August 4 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The aircraft reportedly came within 0.82 nautical miles and 700 feet vertically of each other.

Investigators found that air traffic controllers did not receive the required three-minute warning call before the helicopter's departure. Although Marine One pilots and controllers had met a week prior to discuss spotty radio communications and had agreed on a backup plan to relay messages through Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, that alternative also failed on the day of the incident.

The NTSB identified that ongoing White House construction contributed to the issue by creating a radio blind spot, as the helicopter's temporary operating location lacked a sufficient line of sight to the control tower. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has moved the radio receiver to the top of the Reagan National tower to improve connectivity. Officials noted that the incident appeared to violate safety procedures established following a fatal midair collision in January 2025, though they emphasized the president was not in immediate danger.

Entities

Donald Trump · Envoy Air · Federal Aviation Administration · National Transportation Safety Board · Pentagon · Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] The dual takeoff violated safety procedures established after a midair collision in January 2025. offthepress.com · looniepolitics.com · www.whec.com · www.bangordailynews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com · +1 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The FAA moved a radio receiver to the top of the Reagan National tower to improve communications. www.whec.com · triblive.com
[● 7 SOURCES] The backup plan to relay radio calls through Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling failed during the August 4 incident. offthepress.com · looniepolitics.com · www.whec.com · www.bangordailynews.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · +2 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Marine One and an Envoy Air jet came within 0.82 nautical miles and 700 feet vertically of each other on August 4. www.ibtimes.co.uk
[● 7 SOURCES] The NTSB released a preliminary report regarding the August 4 aviation incident. offthepress.com · looniepolitics.com · www.whec.com · www.bangordailynews.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · +2 more
[● 2 SOURCES] White House construction contributed to radio problems by creating a lack of line of sight to radio equipment. www.whec.com · triblive.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The incident involved Envoy Air Flight 3742, an Embraer E-170, departing from Reagan National. www.ibtimes.co.uk
[● 7 SOURCES] Air traffic controllers and Marine One pilots met on July 30 to discuss ongoing communication issues. offthepress.com · looniepolitics.com · www.whec.com · www.bangordailynews.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · +2 more